Services
Developmental Editing
For clients nearing completion of a novel or memoir, I offer structural editing services to address big picture issues, including: pacing, plot, character development, and point of view.
We’ll identify your core story and how that story is reflected (or not) in the overall structure of the book.
A developmental edit from me includes detailed margin notes, a global cover letter addressing big picture issues and approaches to revision, and a follow up discussion to go over any questions or concerns.
What kind of editor do you need?
Learn more about editing styles here.
Story
Consulting
For storytellers (including nonfiction writers, photographers, and filmmakers) in the process of creating a complex narrative, I offer feedback on story development, clarifying narrative arcs, and developing key elements.
A story consultation with me includes a review of existing work, preliminary research and interview questions as needed, and an outline of possible structural choices and areas for development.
I also assist short form writers with the challenging task of ordering a collection.
Coaching
Good coaching starts with good questions. Before we do anything else, we’ll talk about what you’re working on, where you want to take it, and what kind of support will actually help you get there.
From there, I design a plan built around your project and your process — not a generic template. Depending on where you are in the work, that might mean close critique of new pages, structural conversation about the larger arc, targeted exercises to push past a stuck place, or curated readings that speak to the specific craft problems you’re wrestling with.
My approach is grounded in craft, and I do my best work with serious writers who have something on the page and are ready to dig into it. If we’ve worked together before—through a class or a developmental edit—we’ll already share the vocabulary that makes this kind of work go deep quickly. If we haven’t, we’ll build that foundation together.
Coaching engagements are customized and ongoing. Reach out to start a conversation about your project.
Teaching
For writers seeking to improve their skills, I teach courses on creative writing and professional development for adult students of all levels.
Check out upcoming classes!